Palmers Brewery Community Fund has provided £1,045 of match funding
Bridport Gig Rowing Club Junior Squad
Bridport, Dorset, United Kingdom
Aim
To expand junior rowing in Bridport in 2026 by investing in new medium-weight oars that will develop correct technique and build confidence.
Who are we?
Formed in 2007, Bridport Gig Rowing Club offers its members rowing on the stunning Jurassic coast from West Bay. We have in the region of 100 members from the age of 10 upwards, who regularly train and race in our 5 traditional Cornish pilot gigs: Our wooden racing boats are Beacon, Brydian, Dagger, and Blaez, plus we have one GRP training boat Bucky Doo.
Why are we crowdfunding?
Our junior sqaud are increasingly taking part in on-water sessions, regattas, and county-level competitions, but current equipment is limited and not optimally suited to developing strength and technique. Appropriately sized medium-weight oars will reduce strain and injury risk for our junior rowers, allowing them to train safely. It will enable them to develop proper rowing technique, supporting skill progression and competitive success in regattas and county-level events, helping them reach their potential.
We have already been successful in securing partial funding from Dorset Council’s Culture and Community Project Fund. We are now fundraising for the remaining cost of the project.
How we’ll spend the money raised
The total cost of a full set of junior oars is £3695 and we already have funding for 70% of this. Any money raising will be put towards paying for the cost of this not covered by the council grant.
Community impact
Being an outdoor, social, teambased sport, Gig Rowing combines structured physical exercise with connection to nature. It offers our young people an accessible way to build strength, stamina, and fitness while taking part in a fun, team-based sport. Through regular training and clear progression pathways, participants develop discipline, confidence, and resilience as they master new skills and compete in regattas. The sport also fosters strong teamwork and communication, as every rower must work in harmony to succeed. Being on the water supports mental wellbeing and reduces stress, while the club environment provides a welcoming community that helps young people form friendships, feel included, and stay active in a safe, structured setting.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
This project successfully funded on 24th April 2026